Numerical Modeling of Reacting Liquid Glass Layer in an Advanced Glass Melter

In the advanced glass melter small particles of batch materials are rapidly heated to glass formation temperatures while entrained in gas, and then deposited on a target surface. The resulting liquid slurry, consisting of sand, CaO, and MgO particles in the liquid formed by mixing of molten cullet and Na₂CO₃, flows down the center body. During this flow the solid particles dissolve in the liquid and diffuse to form glass. This paper describes a numerical model developed to describe the behavior of this liquid layer. The model is based on Navier-Stokes equations reduced for the case of a low Reynolds number liquid layer flowing under the action of gravity and shear from gases flowing on top. Experimental results agree with model predictions.